The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-09-23
Farm, GARDEN AND HOME.


nary weights and are popular in Eng
land. They are hardy and good
grszers.
At 90 days Of ag,', says an exchange,
lambs will net from 50 to $5 or more
a head, according to quality and the
business is just as proper as to keep
them two or three years to sell them
for the same price per head as wcth.
ers.
The American Stockman thinks
that Notwithstanding many aud great
benefits which have been from time to |
time urged in favor of soilirg it is an
undisputed tact that the practice is not |
making much headway among practical
farmers.
One of the principal Causes Of fail
ure in preserving eggs is that in nearly
all cases where the eggs are collected
from different sourses few stale ones
get in among those that are fresh, thus
injuring all. Only strictly fresh eggs
can be preserved.
A fast horse is not the best for the
plow or cultivator, as such horses not
only soon exhaust themselves but the
driver also. The best work can usually
be done with slow animal, as the
grass and weeds can thus more easily
be destroyed.
Store beets, carrots, parsnips and
turnips in bins in the cellar, and pack
them in dry sand or earth, and they
will keep well for winter use. This
method will enable the farmer to use
them at any time, which will not be
the case if they be stored in mounds in
the open air.
When digging potatoes allow them
to thoroughly dry before removing
them to the storage bins. If dried in
the shade it will be better than expos
ing them to the direct rays of the sun,
and they should not be stored too soon
after digging them, but should be kept
spread out for few days.
Peach trees that have made good
growth since spring need no fertilizer
other than wood ashes. The object
should be to keep the ground clean.
Those who have attempted to grow
grass crop in the peach orchard have
found such method mistake. In
the pear orchard, however, grass crop
will not injure the trees, as too rapid
growth of pear trees is said to induce
the blight.
The difficulty of curing fodder corn
in its immature state, says an exchange,
tempts many farmers into permitting
it to become too ripe before cutting.
The stage of Towering is considered
the best time TO cut other crops, and
corn appears to be no exception. The
rule very generally observed among ex-
perienced growers is to cut fodder corn
for drying in the early blossom OF the
tassel. AT whatever stage the fodder
is harvested it is wise TO have the crop
cut before being touched by frost.
Land plowed deep in the fall will
produce. on an average, fully one
third larger yield than the same land
plowed in the spring, besides being in
more advantageous form for cultiva-
tion. Deep fall plowing mellows the
land and causes it to yield up more
readily the fertilizing qualities of the
soil and retain better the elements of
plant food. Let any farmer observe
the difference in the crop production
over the same quality of soil plowed in
the spring. Especially will the differ
ence be seen in dry season.
The question is asked whether it isn't
great mistake for farmers to crowd
all their stock, farming implements,
provender and grain into their barns,
40 that it the barn takes fire, the flames
destroy every thing at one fell swoop 7
Wouldn't it be better to have hay,
straw and fodder under barracks at a
safe distance from the buildings Aud
would 1t not be better to have horses
and cattle housed in stable separate
from the barn? In word, ia it pru-
dent and economical to build large and
costly barns and store them with in.
fammable material, so that the struc-
ture and contents may be reduced to
ashesi
An agricultural paper says: Every
paper in the United States ought oc-
casionally to keep the fact before its
readers that burnt coru is certain
and speedy cure for hog cholera. The
best way is to take a pile of corn on
the cobs and effectually scorch i. and
give the affected hogs free access to it.
This remedy was discovered by E E.
Lock at the time his distillery was
burnt down in Lewiston, ILL.,, together
with a lot of stored corn, which was so
much Injured as TO be unfit for use.
1t was greedily eaten by the hogs, sew.
eral of which were dying daily. After
the second day not single hog was
lost, and the disease entirely disappear
ed. The remedy has been tried in a
number Of cases since, and has never
failed.
Says an exchange: Eight matches
per day is the average number used by
every man, woman and child in this
country. The insurance people have
statistics showing that one third of all
the fires are caused by carelessness in
their use. Teach every child to be
careful of matches, and allow no man
to work about the barn who carries
them in his pocket.
An old New England housekeeper
says: To keep moths ont of closets,
clothes and carpets take green tansy.
1t is better before it goes to seed. Pat
it around the edges of carpets, and
hang it up in closets where wooden
clothes are hung, and no moth will
ever come where 1t is.
Many people do not know how easily
they can protect themselves and their
children against the bites of gnats and
other insects. Weak carbolic acid,
sponged on the skin and hair, and in
some cases the clothing, will drive
away the whole tribe. A great many
children and not few adults are tor
mented throughout the whole summer
by minute enemies. We know per-
sons who are afraid of picnics, and
even of their own gardens, on this so
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